A travel reimbursement is a repayment of travel expenses, usually after taking a trip for work. If an individual is asked to take a business trip, he or she can usually save receipts, keep track of expenses, and submit a form to his employer requesting a travel reimbursement. Some companies will reimburse all related travel expenses, while others will only provide a portion. There are typically a few restrictions on what can be considered travel expenses eligible for reimbursement, and which are simply expenses for which the employee is responsible.
Some universities will also provide a travel reimbursement to students if they travel for a specific class, or if undergraduate or graduate students taking classes online come to an on-campus residency program, for example. Reimbursements through one's employer or school are typically the only options, however. Some of the most common types of work trips that may qualify an individual for a travel reimbursement include business trips to attend meetings in other areas, to attempt to sell the company's product, or to attend conferences that are relevant to the workplace.
The expenses that are typically included in a travel reimbursement might be airfare or gas for a car, the price of a rental car, hotel or other accommodations, and a daily food allowance. Some businesses might not cover all meals for the trip, but will provide a certain amount per day for food. If the employee goes beyond that amount, he or she will be responsible for the difference. When trying to get a travel reimbursement, it is important to keep receipts and to keep careful track of all the money that is spent so it can be submitted when one returns to work.
Workplaces or schools will typically require that expense sheets be submitted within a certain amount of time after returning from the trip, and will often provide a form to employees to fill out for each expense. Some employees may be asked to estimate their expenses ahead of time before they even go on the trip, then asked to account for any discrepancies. If the trip is not required by the workplace, but is rather the employee's choice, such as a conference, he or she may be asked to complete a proposal, and then prepare a report upon returning in order to be eligible for reimbursement. It may take a few pay periods before the travel expenses are reimbursed; each business's procedures may be different.